Julia Valentine's blog

Oct

25

2010

by Julia Valentine

Age discrimination is a touchy subject with the 50-plus audience. I asked Newt Gingrich his opinion on dealing with this issue at the AARP 50+ Expo on October 1, 2010.

Julia Valentine: What do you think can be done about age discrimination on a policy level, and what would be your advice to anyone who is completely discouraged trying to find a job at, let’s say, 60 or 65?

Newt Gingrich:I think it is challenging for everyone to find a job right now, at any age. We have 9.6% unemployment, almost 20% underemployment.

Oct

14

2010

by Julia Valentine

I asked Cesar Milan if animals can teach us something about living joyfully, and - are you surprised? - there is plenty to learn from them. Animals are great at dealing with uncertainty (we aren't), they don't follow unstable leaders (we do), and they go by how someone feels (we mostly go by how someone looks). Sounds fascinating? Read on.

Oct

13

2010

by Julia Valentine

Jane Pauley is AARP's Your Life Calling Ambassador (that's a unique title!) She has been interviewing 50+ Americans who reinvented themselves, whether by choice or necessity. Jane has been thinking and talking about reinvention for more than 20 years. So, I knew I would learn something important when I asked her this question at a press conference after her feature presentation at the AARP 50+ Expo on September 30, 2010.

Julia Valentine: Jane, thank you for being here. I was at your session earlier and it was fantastic, very thoughtful and sensitive. What is your best advice for anyone who really wants to reinvent himself or herself, but is afraid to start?

Oct

11

2010

by Julia Valentine

Some lessons in leadership come from unexpected sources, like ... dogs. What insights about leadership can we gain from pack animals? Surprisingly, our observation of animals can help us become more aware of our own behavior.

Cesar Milan says, "Animals do not follow unstable pack leaders. Only humans follow greedy, fearful, selfish, jealous pack leaders. We run around and follow them, and we give them more power. We re-elect them, and re-elect them, and re-elect them. So, I think we can learn how to vote for the right leader."

Oct

08

2010

by Julia Valentine

She is an actress, comedienne, radio disc jockey, author, singer-songwriter, talk show host and an activist. Not only that, but Whoopi Goldberg is one of the very few to win an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony and an Emmy. So, when I got a chance to ask Whoopi a few questions at the AARP 50+ Expo in Orlando last week, I wanted to know whether she felt she had realized her full potential. After all, so many people in their fifties that I speak to think that they have already done the most important things in their life. Whoopi sounds like a Zen master when she speaks about flowing with the Universe.

Oct

07

2010

by Julia Valentine

Joan Lunden spoke of her desire to motivate and inspire people to recommit to their health at the AARP 50+ Expo in Orlando last week. I was privileged to be able to ask Joan how she motivates herself to manage her overflowing to-do list!

Julia Valentine: Joan, you inspire so many people to pursue the best in their lives: a healthy lifestyle, happiness. What motivates you personally to go out and to do as much as you do?

Oct

05

2010

by Julia Valentine

I was thrilled to be able to ask Martina Navratilova this question at the AARP 50+ Expo press conference last week.

Julia Valentine: What is your advice to anyone who sees fitness as a chore? What would you tell them to change their mind and attitude?

Martina Navratilova: Well, when you see kids running around, you don’t ever say, “You need to go a little bit faster, you need to run.” You have to actually slow them down, because they want to run, they want to get there faster.

Sep

08

2010

by Julia Valentine

Eighty percent of retirement planning consists of worrying. In particular, worrying about money. When almost everyone is currently experiencing losses which negatively effect their retirement savings, it is hardly surprising.